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Ligue 1 | Gameweek 2
Aug 13, 2022 at 8pm UK
Parc des Princes
Montpellier

PSG
5 - 2
Montpellier

Sacko (39' og.), Neymar (43' pen., 51'), Mbappe (69'), Sanches (87')
Kimpembe (60'), Vitinha (66')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Khazri (58'), Tchato Mbiayi (90+1')
Wahi (63')

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Ligue 1 clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier HSC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh from a 5-0 trouncing of Clermont on the opening day of the season, Paris Saint-Germain return to the Parc des Princes for Saturday's visit of Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, the visitors were also involved in a five-goal encounter in gameweek one and just about managed to scrape past Troyes 3-2 on their own turf.


Match preview

PSG boss Christophe Galtier on August 6, 2022© Reuters

Nine goals scored. Zero conceded. One trophy already in the cabinet. Christophe Galtier's start to life at PSG has been close to perfect so far, but the Frenchman still has a long way to go to appease the merciless Parisiens board.

The opening-day trip to Clermont last week saw Neymar, Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi get on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle blew, and the former then turned provider for Lionel Messi before a stunning overhead kick from the Argentine sealed a romping PSG success.

Sitting at the top of the fledgling rankings after just one game, PSG will have no intention of losing their grip on first place in the next 37 gameweeks, and their unbeaten run in the top flight now stands at 10 matches.

The reigning champions are still in the market for new arrivals as they prepare to bring Fabian Ruiz to the club from Napoli, with Galtier admitting in his pre-match press conference that his side are in need of another striker to take some of the pressure off of Kylian Mbappe's shoulders.

After going unbeaten at the Parc des Princes for the entirety of last season in Ligue 1, PSG now set out to extend their unbeaten domestic streak on home soil to a whopping 23 matches, and a leaky Montpellier defence should travel to the capital in hope rather than expectation.

Olivier Dall'Oglio, now in charge of Montpellier, pictured in March 2021© Reuters

Goals can always be expected in a game where Olivier Dall'Oglio is wandering up and down the touchline, but the crowd at the Stade de la Mosson could not have envisaged the blockbuster start that occurred in Saturday's battle with Troyes.

By the 17-minute mark, Teji Savanier, Theo Sainte-Luce, Florian Tardieu and Mama Balde had struck for their respective sides, and the scoreline would remain at 2-2 before a moment of magic from Savanier bagged Montpellier all three points.

The Paillade captain bagged his second with a lovely cushioned finish from the edge of the area in the 81st minute, which broke a miserable 11-match winless run for Dall'Oglio's side in Ligue 1 since beating now-relegated Bordeaux back in March.

Meetings with Auxerre, Brest and Ajaccio will follow for La Paillade after their tough examination against PSG, who are aiming to inflict a sixth-straight away loss onto Dall'Oglio's men, who have shipped at least two goals in each of their last five away league battles.

PSG eased to a 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes over Montpellier last term before a 4-0 success at the Stade de la Mosson back in May, which represented the champions' seventh consecutive win in this fixture in all competitions.

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:
  • W

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:
  • W


Team News

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe pictured on April 20, 2022 © Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain are still without the injured Julian Draxler as he recuperates from a knee problem, but Galtier has no fresh concerns to report from the opening-day win over Clermont.

Kylian Mbappe missed that encounter due to an adductor injury, but the 23-year-old - who missed the Trophee des Champions win over Nantes through suspension - is now ready to make his first appearance of the new season.

Nordi Mukiele, Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitike are pushing to make their first Ligue 1 starts for the club this weekend, but Sanches is reported to be nursing a knock and could therefore be a doubt for the weekend - the latest in a long line of injury woes for the Portuguese midfielder.

Meanwhile, Montpellier will have midfielder Jordan Ferri back from suspension for the clash with the champions, but neither Savanier nor Joris Chotard are likely to relinquish their places in the middle.

Dall'Oglio witnessed the painful sight of key attacker Stephy Mavididi coming off with a thigh problem after just 30 minutes on the opening weekend, which could render him unavailable for several weeks.

On a brighter note, Arnaud Nordin has fully recovered from groin pain and is ready to deputise for the Englishman on the left-hand side, but Sacha Delaye is definitely out, and centre-back Pedro Mendes is touch-and-go with a muscular problem.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Ramos, Kimpembe, Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Souquet, Esteve, Sakho, Sainte-Luce; Savanier, Chotard; Maouassa, Khazri, Nordin; Wahi


SM words green background

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Montpellier HSC

Losing a top talent in Mavididi is not what the doctor ordered for Montpellier before a trip to the champions, who are now in their 16th month without a Ligue 1 defeat at the Parc des Princes.

Savanier and Elye Wahi can still pose a threat going forward for La Paillade, but we cannot see any other outcome than another resounding success for PSG.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: PSG vs Montpellier

Paris Saint-Germain
92.3%
Draw
5.1%
Montpellier HSC
2.6%
78
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille1272327161123
4Lille126421911822
5Nice1255223121120
6Lyon125431916319
7Auxerre126152119219
8Reims125342016418
9Lens124531312117
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg123452124-313
12Brest124171622-613
13Saint-EtienneSt Etienne124171125-1413
14Le HavreLe Havre124081023-1312
15Rennes123271319-611
16NantesNantes122461419-510
17Angers122461321-810
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier122191132-217


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